On the outbreak of World War I in 1914, fear of a possible attack on the colony led to an exodus of 60,000 Chinese. However, Hong Kong during World War I saw no direct military action, and Hong Kong’s population continued to boom in the following decades from 530,000 in 1916 to 725,000 in 1925.
Hong Kong around 1910
Nonetheless, the city served as an important port in East Asia, including as the headquarters of the British China Station, and saw significant socioeconomical changes during the war.
These photos are from a folder of postcards from the Kien family archives that captured everyday life of Hong Kong around 1910.
Leave a Reply